"Please take these weapons and defend the area near the riverbank," said a sturdy man as he approached, handing several of the latest model guns to Chu Lian. "The recoil is minimal, so even girls with little strength can handle them easily. Their firepower is immense, and the energy capacity should allow for about a thousand shots—enough to protect yourselves for the time being."
"These are newly designed national weapons? You're not using this as a field test, are you? Could they be dangerous?" Chu Lian frowned. The weapons looked extremely high-tech, but she couldn't help feeling uneasy about them.
"Yes, these are lightweight pistols powered by a mysterious crystal that condenses ambient spiritual energy into bullets. Each shot is roughly three times stronger than a Barrett sniper rifle, though the effective range is limited to three hundred meters. The research began about ten years ago, and the prototype design was only completed within the last two years," the man explained frankly, holding nothing back.
"Just finished designing them? So this is their first time in real combat?" Chu Lian felt like the sleek weapon in her hand was a hot potato. A weapon being deployed to battle right after testing? That didn't sound reliable at all.
"Please rest assured," the man said quickly. "Although this is their first time in real combat, every unit has been personally adjusted by our commander. Even if a malfunction occurs, it won't harm the user. Take note—when the crystal's energy runs out, the weapon will glow red. That means you'll need to replace the crystal. Since it uses spiritual energy as ammunition, we call it a [Spiritual Energy Weapon]. It's the world's newest generation of weaponry—after cold weapons and firearms, it's the third generation: [Energy Weapons]." He remained focused and patient, explaining everything in detail despite the approaching sea of corpses.
"You said a lot, but what I care about is this—the drive core still has limits, right? After each use, you have to replace the crystal?" Chu Lian asked. The crystals weren't self-recharging as she'd imagined. Still, for a first-generation spiritual weapon, this was already impressive.
"That's correct. To replace the crystal, open the latch on the side of the grip and place a new one within three centimeters of the chamber—it'll automatically reload. But be careful: the replacement process takes at least three seconds. Make sure not to run out of energy at the same time." After giving this warning, the man left a black case and a larger box by their side before returning to his post, firing steadily into the horde.
"Hmm, did everyone catch that?" Chu Lian looked at the girls and noticed that, mixed with their fear and confusion, there was also a glint of excitement.
"It seems like you all enjoy this kind of chaos..." Chu Lian said with a helpless smile. She distributed the weapons among them and then spoke solemnly, "No matter how valuable these weapons are, none of them compare to your lives. So, to protect yourselves, use them wisely."
"Big Sis, I understand," Chu Chu replied, a faint smile touching her pale face. She was badly injured now—someone who needed protection. That duty fell to Xiu'er.
"Xiu'er, take my gun and protect Chu Chu and yourself," Chu Lian instructed. Her own body, though wounded, was healing quickly thanks to her powerful physique. She didn't need the weapon to fight.
"Inori, give your gun to Yanran, then move to the outer line and keep watch. Protect everyone," Chu Lian ordered next after seeing Xiu'er nod resolutely.
"What about you? Your wounds aren't fully healed, are they? Can you really handle another long fight?" Liu Yanran asked, stepping forward anxiously. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she glanced at Chu Lian's torn dress.
"Don't worry, Yanran. I may be hurt, but these zombies can't stop me," Chu Lian reassured her with a gentle smile. "But that doesn't mean I'll charge straight in recklessly. See that?" she said, pointing toward the large box the soldier had left behind.
"What's that?" Liu Yanran asked, noticing Chu Lian's relaxed expression and realizing that whatever was inside the box must be extraordinary.
"Spirit Convergence Device..." Chu Lian opened the box, revealing a stunning object no larger than thirty centimeters.
The dimly glowing device had a silver-white surface, with four diamond-shaped blue crystals floating at its corners. Its core resembled a winged kite, wings folded tightly, body poised upright toward the sky. In its talons, it held a circular basin—closer inspection revealed it to be the coiled body of a dragon.
"With this, it'll be nearly impossible for me to run out of spiritual power." Chu Lian naturally recognized the item—it was one of the most useful tools obtainable through Item Points. Although the one she held wasn't of the highest grade, it was still capable of sustaining continuous combat for twelve hours for anyone below the peak of Spirit Level without exhausting their energy.
Even so, that was remarkable enough. A perpetual motion source for twelve straight hours—if placed in the hands of a stationary spellcaster, how much devastation could it unleash?
"Then we'll protect you. Please be careful," Liu Yanran said seriously. She immediately understood that this item was best suited for Chu Lian. With it, Chu Lian's power output would surpass that of most cultivators at her level.
"This will be your first true battle, girls," Chu Lian declared, her voice steady yet warm. "Stand tall and face it bravely. Our enemies are not just these mindless corpses that rely on numbers. Far stronger foes await us in the future. These zombies... are merely our training dummies—our score multipliers for growth."
As she spoke, she subtly infused her words with a trace of enchantment, calming their fear and strengthening their resolve. "Remember—survival comes first."
After finishing, Chu Lian brushed her hand across the Spirit Convergence Device's head, infusing it with her spiritual power and a unique sigil. The device's hollow eyes lit up with blue light, and the surrounding crystals began to orbit, radiating soft azure glows that illuminated the area around her.
Moments later, it floated above Chu Lian's head. The dragon shape expanded into a translucent dome that enveloped her, while the kite's wings fluttered gently, drawing in spiritual energy from the air.
The mesmerizing scene left the girls momentarily entranced—until Chu Lian coughed lightly, reminding them of the danger before them. Snapping back to reality, they exchanged determined glances, nodded, and moved toward the section of the battlefield near the river that the special forces had designated for them.
They could already see zombies struggling through the rushing water, clawing their way forward. Their breathing grew quick and shallow with tension.
In past battles, Chu Lian had done most of the fighting, and the girls had barely been able to follow what was happening. They had been shocked, yes, but never truly terrified. Now, however, as Chu Lian had said, this was their first real battle—a fight they had to face themselves.
Each girl gripped her powerful new weapon, surrounded by friends she trusted with her life, supported by comrades watching their backs. This time, there was no running—only courage.
"Xiu'er, don't be nervous. I'll be right beside you, and Big Sis is behind us. Believe in yourself—you can do it," Chu Chu said, holding Li Xiu'er's trembling hand and meeting her gaze with a soft smile.
"Mm... I won't be afraid. With you, Sister Inori, and everyone else here—and with Chu Lian behind us—I can fight." Encouraged by Chu Chu's words, Li Xiu'er's anxiety eased, and she tightened her grip on her weapon.
"Don't run, don't run... Even if the way ahead is a sea of corpses and mountains of bones, even if the horde is endless—I can't run. I refuse to feel that helplessness again. I won't let her face it alone..." As her determination hardened, Li Xiu'er's eyes grew fierce. Seeing the first zombies crawl onto the riverbank, she raised her weapon and fired the first shot.
"Xiu'er..." Watching her, Liu Yanran tightened her grip on her own gun. She turned briefly to glance at Chu Lian, who stood before the glowing cross-shaped coffin, watching over Kurosaki Satsuki, and smiled faintly. "I'm not afraid, either..." Then she raised her arm and fired the second shot, right after Xiu'er.
Their courage seemed to inspire the others. The tension that had gripped everyone began to fade, replaced by something far more powerful—an awakening of bravery that took root deep in their hearts.
"Xiu'er, I know you can do it," Chu Chu said with a gentle smile. Seeing Ruriko Nana and Lux Lyle already firing, she too lifted her weapon and aimed at the zombies crawling up the riverbank.
Watching the girls' transformation, Inori—who had quietly concealed her presence nearby—let a trace of warmth flicker across her eyes. "They're... beginning to grow," she whispered softly.
Reaching down to her thigh, she drew her own gun and raised it, scanning the distance for any unusual zombies. Her role now was clear: to protect them—to guard their growth.
"Satsuki, focus on recovering. I still want to fight alongside you when you wake up," Chu Lian murmured as she gently brushed her hand across the surface of the cross-shaped coffin. Then she placed her hand at her neck, gripping the [Key of Seven Illusions] and exhaled lightly. "Seven Illusions Bow..."
A brilliant white light erupted, pure and dazzling. The exquisitely crafted bow materialized in her hands—so flawless it looked like a work of art. She raised two fingers and plucked the string lightly. Twang! A melodious hum filled the air, and she smiled faintly. "I didn't expect to rely on you more and more these days."
As if pleased by her words, the [Seven Illusions Bow] glowed even brighter. The intricate patterns along its limbs shimmered, extending to cover sections that had previously been bare.
"System Notice: Due to the user's enhanced abilities and a special condition, the second seal of the Fivefold Lock on [Seven Illusions Bow] has been released. The power of spiritual energy arrows has been amplified, and two new skills have been unlocked."
"Thousand Feathers: Channels spiritual power to fire an arrow that splits into thousands, dealing wide-area damage. Range and power scale with the amount of energy infused."
"Unstoppable: Condenses immense spiritual power into a single arrow of overwhelming force. Upon release, it follows the user's will, expanding a hundredfold upon reaching its target, piercing through all enemies until the energy is fully expended."
"You never fail to surprise me... Alright then, partner—let's go." Chu Lian's voice softened as she caressed the bow's sleek body, then rose with a graceful motion. Her toes touched the ground lightly, and a white high wooden chair manifested beneath her feet, lifting her high into the air.
Standing atop it, she looked out across the endless sea of zombies stretching in every direction.
"Killing humans might weigh on me... but monsters? I won't hold back." Her gaze hardened, and she drew the bowstring slowly—ready to unleash her wrath upon the undead tide.